Thermo Scientific NITON XL3t 500 User Manual page 24

Analyzing Bulk Samples
1-10 NITON XL3 Analyzer User's Guide
• Trigger-Interlock-and-Proximity-Sensor method. With the
Trigger-Interlock-and-Proximity-Sensor method, you must place the
measurement window against the sample to be analyzed to engage
the proximity sensor on the front of the instrument, press and keep
pressing the interlock button at the rear of the instrument with your
free hand, then pull the trigger for sample analysis to be initiated.
• Easy Trigger method. With the Easy trigger method, you need only
place the measurement window against the sample area and pull the
trigger once to initiate a sample analysis. Your analyzer will
continuously sample the backscatter, using a complex internal
algorithm, to determine if the measurement window is against a
sample or pointing to the empty air. If it finds that there is no
sample directly against the measurement window, the analyzer will
stop directing radiation through the window as soon as this
determination is made.
Note The analyzer is constantly checking the backscatter characteristics to
determine if a sample is against the measurement window, whether or not
the Easy Trigger method is being used, and will shut off any radiation
directed through the window if it determines that there is no sample
present.
With any of these methods, analysis will stop if any one of the preconditions
are violated. For example, with the Trigger-Interlock-and-Proximity-Sensor
method, if the trigger or the Proximity Sensor or the Interlock is released,
the reading will stop immediately, and the X-ray tube will shut down.
After your NITON analyzer is calibrated, initiate a sample reading using the
appropriate method. If you attempt to initiate a sample reading using a
different method, the analyzer will inform you that one or more of the
preconditions need to be met in order for sample analysis to begin. Initiate
the proper preconditions for operation to turn on the x-ray tube, and begin
a measurement. Although the four LED lights will begin to flash as soon the
initiating preconditions are met, as a safety precaution, the x-ray tube will
not turn on immediately, and no reading will begin for approximately 0.5
seconds.
Note The four LED lights will blink during calibration.
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